Jumping shoe

Abstract

A jumping shoe includes a pair of spring platforms, extending downward under the heel of the user and under the ball of his foot. Each spring platform includes a guiding structure, a sliding platform mounted to slide on the guiding structure, and a spring pushing the sliding platform downward. Preferably, the sliding movement is obtained through the use of an inner cylinder sliding within a cavity of an outer cylinder.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A shoe comprising: 
 an upper    a sole attached to said upper, wherein said sole and said upper together extend around a foot receiving cavity, and wherein said sole includes a first portion extending under a heel of a human foot placed within said foot receiving cavity and a second portion extending under a ball and toes of said human foot placed within said foot receiving cavity; and    first and second spring platforms, wherein said first spring platform extends downward from said first portion of said sole, wherein said second spring platform extends downward from said second portion of said sole, and wherein each said spring platform includes a guiding structure attached to said sole, a sliding platform slidably mounted on said guiding structure and having a downwardly exposed contact surface, and a spring applying a force between said guiding structure and said sliding platform to hold said sliding platform down.    
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein 
 said guiding structure of a platform within said first and second spring platforms includes a hollow outer cylinder, and    said sliding platform of a platform within said first and second spring platforms includes an inner cylinder sliding within a said outer cylinder.    
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein 
 said inner cylinder includes an outward extending flange, and    said outer cylinder includes an inward extending bushing portion engaging said outward extending flange to limit downward movement of said inner cylinder within said outer cylinder.    
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein 
 a portion of said inner cylinder is hollow, and    said spring includes a compression spring extending within said hollow portion of said inner cylinder and within said hollow outer cylinder.    
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein 
 said guiding structure of a platform within said first and second spring platforms includes an inner cylinder, and    said sliding platform of a platform within said first and second spring platforms includes a hollow outer cylinder sliding over said inner cylinder.    
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 5 , wherein 
 said inner cylinder includes an outward extending flange, and    said outer cylinder includes an inward extending bushing portion engaging said outward extending flange to limit downward movement of said outer cylinder over said inner cylinder.    
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 5 , wherein 
 a portion of said inner cylinder is hollow, and    said spring includes a compression spring extending within said hollow portion of said inner cylinder and within said hollow outer cylinder.    
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein said spring of a spring platform within said first and second spring platforms includes a compressing spring extending around said guiding structure.  
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a spring platform within said first and second spring platforms additionally comprises a flexible bellows extending around said guiding structure and around a portion of said sliding platform.  
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a spring platform within said first and second spring platforms includes: 
 a hollow outer cylinder;    an inner cylinder sliding within said hollow outer cylinder; and    an adjustable valve allowing a flow of air into a cavity within said hollow outer cylinder.    
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a spring platform within said first and second spring platforms includes: 
 a hollow outer cylinder;    an inner cylinder sliding within said hollow outer cylinder; and    a check valve opening to allow a flow of air into a cavity within said hollow outer cylinder and closing to prevent a flow of air from said cavity within said hollow outer cylinder.    
     
     
         13 . A spring platform for attachment under a shoe sole, wherein said spring platform comprises: 
 a guiding structure for attachment to said sole;    a sliding platform slidably mounted on said guiding structure, having a downwardly exposed contact surface; and    a spring applying a force between said guiding structure and said sliding platform to hold said sliding platform down.    
     
     
         14 . The spring platform of  claim 13 , wherein 
 said guiding structure includes a hollow outer cylinder, and    said sliding platform includes an inner cylinder sliding within a said outer cylinder.    
     
     
         15 . The spring platform of  claim 14 , wherein 
 said inner cylinder includes an outward extending flange, and    said outer cylinder includes an inward extending bushing portion engaging said outward extending flange to limit downward movement of said inner cylinder within said outer cylinder.    
     
     
         16 . The spring platform of  claim 14 , wherein 
 a portion of said inner cylinder is hollow, and    said spring includes a compression spring extending within said hollow portion of said inner cylinder and within said hollow outer cylinder.    
     
     
         17 . The spring platform of  claim 13 , wherein 
 said guiding structure includes an inner cylinder, and    said sliding platform includes a hollow outer cylinder sliding over said inner cylinder.    
     
     
         18 . The spring platform of  claim 17 , wherein 
 said inner cylinder includes an outward extending flange, and    said outer cylinder includes an inward extending bushing portion engaging said outward extending flange to limit downward movement of said outer cylinder over said inner cylinder.    
     
     
         19 . The spring platform of  claim 17 , wherein 
 a portion of said inner cylinder is hollow, and    said spring includes a compression spring extending within said hollow portion of said inner cylinder and within said hollow outer cylinder.    
     
     
         20 . The spring platform of  claim 13 , wherein said spring includes a compressing spring extending around said guiding structure.  
     
     
         21 . The spring platform of  claim 13 , additionally comprising a flexible bellows extending around said guiding structure and around a portion of said sliding platform.  
     
     
         22 . The spring platform of  claim 13 , wherein a spring platform includes: 
 a hollow outer cylinder;    an inner cylinder sliding within said hollow outer cylinder; and    an adjustable valve allowing a flow of air into and out of a cavity within said hollow outer cylinder.    
     
     
         23 . The spring platform of  claim 13 , wherein a spring platform includes: 
 a hollow outer cylinder;    an inner cylinder sliding within said hollow outer cylinder; and    a check valve opening to allow a flow of air into a cavity within said hollow outer cylinder and closing to prevent a flow of air from said cavity within said hollow outer cylinder.